peri age ? Options

[CML]

Is there anyone around the age of 38 that has started peri ? My daughter's Dr told her that was not possible, that it started around 50. Why are Dr's so uneducated about this ?

[Jaemama]

Is there anyone around the age of 38 that has started peri ? My daughter's Dr told her that was not possible, that it started around 50. Why are Dr's so uneducated about this ?

Hello,

I don't know anyone in their late 30s who admits to being in peri but complain of many of the symptoms. Most of the books out there about Peri and Menopause say that this transitional phase in our lives begins from the age of 35 - 50. The average age of menopause (12 months being without a period) is 52 but since we are all wired differently, some women can be menopaused by 48 and some women won't menopause until they are 58.
You're right about many docs being so uneducated about the peri stage. Even my doc who is a female, said that I (at the age of 44) was too "young" for peri but I know this is not true. If you research many of the books and websites, you'll find the 35 - 50 age range for peri is common.

[Michah Hadley]

Some doctors speak utter malarcky!!! I started perimenopause at 32 but wasn't dx until 2 months ago. I am now 35 and on HRT. The symptoms have completely debilitated me and I cannot work. All your daughter needs is ONE doctor to LISTEN and you will have your answer. Thats how it happened for me.......do not delay, babe!!

Kick those doctors that offer stupidity to the curb!! They could at least entertain the idea that it MIGHT be peri or meno.....OR.....help her in other ways!!! I HATE it when drs say, "There is nothing wrong" and kick you out without treatment to feel better!! "Yes, well now that you have told me that I am fine, when I don't feel it, that makes how horrendous I feel okay. Thanks !!!"

Sorry, really gets my goat.........just 1 good doctor is all it takes for her to get help........A thyroid check would probably be helpful too.....

Good luck, sweetie..

[Medium at Large]

I started night sweats at 37. Other symptoms slowly emerged over time but I recall waking up during the night and getting mad at my hubby cause I was dripping. Then I realized that he was dry? I was completely befuddled until a kind friend informed me it was me. lol.

[chaotichar]

I started my lovely journey at 39. Had several tests done and yep I was post with no clue. I haven't had a period in 7 years. BUT that does not mean I don't suffer now. I didn't then but now I feel like I'm crashing. I WANT MY LIFE BACK!!!

[stitchnanny]

I started my symptoms at 36! The doctor is spouting BS. He may not have heard of it but that does not mean it does not exist. These doctors really dont know a whole lot about women, even the women!

[leanne0721]

I was in my mid 30's also. I think the Dr. might have been referring to menopause, not perimenopause. The AVERAGE age of menopause is 51. Perimenopause usually starts 10-15 years before actual menopause so 38 would be right on the money. Most women are in perimenopause for quite some time before they even know it. They usually figure it out when their symptoms get more severe.

[moonlight]

I started peri at age 29.....so although there's an "average" age for it to start,it doesn't mean it can't happen earlier or later,each one of us is different...

[XIII]

For me, life destroying migraines and IBS started at 38 and got worse and worse until menopause at 51. I have not had one migraine since my periods stopped. That is not coincidence. My balance, in terms of reproductive hormones started to slide at 38, no doubt about it. Peri menopause was horrific for me and my doctors were about as useful as a chocolate fire guard.

The main problem is that hormonally sensitive individuals suffer like hell and others have no symptoms at all. That is why we get ignored.

During the firestorm of perimenopause my doctor just shrugged his shoulders and said that my migraines were an immunological problem that was incurable and I was a very 'unfortunate' individual. He once said that if I were a dog, they would put me down. Thanks a bunch!

No doctor, your patient was in perimenopause and was suffering terribly because of your complete ignorance!


Rant over girls............


XIII

[MyFaith]

I was about 38 when I began having symptoms and so was my two sisters who are younger. Regardless of what some doctors are saying the facts are undeniable. They need to get their heads out of their antiquated textbooks and pay more attention to what they are hearing time and time again from patients.

[moonlight]

sa They need to get their heads out of their antiquated textbooks

or out of their butts.....

[CML]

Than you so much for the replies, I am forwarding them to my daughter.

With so many women suffering from meno symtoms and everyone of us having to go through, you would think more Dr's would specialize in this. There would be alot of money in it for them !!!! There were days I would have drank gasoline if I thouhgt it would have made me feel better I hate to see it has already started for my daughter.

Have a great one,
Glenda

[Lady E]

I started at 29,after a huge amount of stress.I later found out that early meno runs in my family.The dr is silly-sadly a lot of them are.I hope your daughter finds relief and a better doctor.GOD-bless

[joyceveronica]

Is there anyone around the age of 38 that has started peri ? My daughter's Dr told her that was not possible, that it started around 50. Why are Dr's so uneducated about this ?

Dear 'CML'
Age is not really a determining factor.I was Post Menopausal at 39 so probably was in Peri without realising for a while before.If I had not gone on the HRT I think I would have been a raving lunatic as all my symptoms,excessive sweating,aversion to food,insomnia and very high anxiety got me into a Psychiatrists care.By chance the Gyno.who saw me for my annual check-up diagnosed Premature Ovarian Failure.I was lucky to have some- one who knew and understood and this is almost twenty years ago

Unfortunately there is still a lot of ignorance and denial as to what is 'age appropriate ' for Menopause.We ladies know our own bodies and believe you me your daughter has to go on being pro-active till she finds someone willing to listen and then she can decide how she would like to manage her symptoms depending on their severity.

She is lucky to have you on her side as a great Mother.
Let your daughter come here and browse around.She will find lots of support and information from ladies in her age group going through Menopause.

All the Best
Warm Wishes
Elizabeth

[CML]

Dear 'CML'
Age is not really a determining factor.I was Post Menopausal at 39 so probably was in Peri without realising for a while before.If I had not gone on the HRT I think I would have been a raving lunatic as all my symptoms,excessive sweating,aversion to food,insomnia and very high anxiety got me into a Psychiatrists care.By chance the Gyno.who saw me for my annual check-up diagnosed Premature Ovarian Failure.I was lucky to have some- one who knew and understood and this is almost twenty years ago

Unfortunately there is still a lot of ignorance and denial as to what is 'age appropriate ' for Menopause.We ladies know our own bodies and believe you me your daughter has to go on being pro-active till she finds someone willing to listen and then she can decide how she would like to manage her symptoms depending on their severity.

She is lucky to have you on her side as a great Mother.
Let your daughter come here and browse around.She will find lots of support and information from ladies in her age group going through Menopause.

All the Best
Warm Wishes
Elizabeth

Thanks so much, after several trips to the emergency room, she need some answers.
Are you ok now ?

[BlossysMom]

Is there anyone around the age of 38 that has started peri ? My daughter's Dr told her that was not possible, that it started around 50. Why are Dr's so uneducated about this ?

Tell your daughters doc that he/she is a dope! I have been dealing with it since age 32 and I am now 41. Life sux most of the time due to this

[nc53215]

i started mine at 33 with nite flashes- after having my tubes tied at 21......

[momof2gr8kids]

I'm new to the board, but this thread immediately caught my eye, because I am 42 and in the throes of perimenopause.

My symptoms probably started around the age of....bing..bing..bing...38! But, they kind of crept up and have slowly gotten worse over the last 4 years....so much so, that I really haven't attributed the symptoms to peri until just recently, when after being diagnosed as depressed, ADHD, etc, etc, etc, and none of the treatments were really getting me anywhere but fatter and unhappier...I decided to get a full thyroid and hormone panel workup done by a doc who really seems to understand these things. Thyroid and adrenals checked out as normal, but he suggested some simple vitamin supplements, plus bio-identical hormone therapy which I will start this next cycle. I was nervous to start the hormones, because I suffer migraines and I don't take birth control pills for the very reason they trigger migraines for me. However, at this point, I have begun to experience severe IBS symptoms that are almost debilitating. I am ready to try anything, to get my life back. All of my symptoms are consistent with perimenopause....brain fog, inability to concentrate, hot flashes, joint pain, lack of energy, now the ibs, increased migraines, weight gain in the middle (I was always a 'pear'), and on and on. I have been through EXTENSIVE gastro testing in the past month and they can find nothing that explains the pain and constipation I've been experiencing (I even had to go to the ER one night, it was so bad!). My gastro told me that during peri/menopause, female hormones can cause the digestive system to do very strange things. So, to me...everything seems to be pointing to my symptoms being hormone related. No, my periods haven't gone away yet, but that is the final 'symptom' of MENOPAUSE....not perimenopause.....so I am calling this peri...whether anyone else does or not.

just my 2 cents.

[joyceveronica]

Thanks so much, after several trips to the emergency room, she need some answers.
Are you ok now ?

thank-you my dear friend.I am very well now
Please keep us posted on your daughter's progress
All the Best
Elizabeth

I'm new to the board, but this thread immediately caught my eye, because I am 42 and in the throes of perimenopause.

My symptoms probably started around the age of....bing..bing..bing...38! But, they kind of crept up and have slowly gotten worse over the last 4 years....so much so, that I really haven't attributed the symptoms to peri until just recently, when after being diagnosed as depressed, ADHD, etc, etc, etc, and none of the treatments were really getting me anywhere but fatter and unhappier...I decided to get a full thyroid and hormone panel workup done by a doc who really seems to understand these things. Thyroid and adrenals checked out as normal, but he suggested some simple vitamin supplements, plus bio-identical hormone therapy which I will start this next cycle. I was nervous to start the hormones, because I suffer migraines and I don't take birth control pills for the very reason they trigger migraines for me. However, at this point, I have begun to experience severe IBS symptoms that are almost debilitating. I am ready to try anything, to get my life back. All of my symptoms are consistent with perimenopause....brain fog, inability to concentrate, hot flashes, joint pain, lack of energy, now the ibs, increased migraines, weight gain in the middle (I was always a 'pear'), and on and on. I have been through EXTENSIVE gastro testing in the past month and they can find nothing that explains the pain and constipation I've been experiencing (I even had to go to the ER one night, it was so bad!). My gastro told me that during peri/menopause, female hormones can cause the digestive system to do very strange things. So, to me...everything seems to be pointing to my symptoms being hormone related. No, my periods haven't gone away yet, but that is the final 'symptom' of MENOPAUSE....not perimenopause.....so I am calling this peri...whether anyone else does or not.

just my 2 cents.

Call it like it is honey!Because we know our bodies and frankly fluctuating Hormones affect every organ of our body.
HRT has worked well for me and I really hope you do well on the BHRT.
There is no reason for you to suffer needlessly so do not give up.

Warm Wishes
Keep us Posted
Elizabeth

[jurnie]

Hello Ladies, I am 38 going on 39 July 1st, on my period as of this moment and looking for some answer's. Thanks to all of you beautiful ladies now I know i'm not dying I just feel like it. I wanted to go to ER several times till I started to read this this morning. I believe my Peri started when I was 32 because it has been a down hill battle since everytime I start my period. My period will only start after several bowel movements but before it starts so does the bitchiness, body aches, chest pain, heart palps, head aches overall feeling of awful. I have HBP and I think oh no I must be high but really to feel this much pain with HBP I don't think so. Once my period starts I bleed heavy for 2 days then it tapers off for another 3 days or so and i'm in complete misery. My dr. says theres nothing wrong with me and prescribed AD's This is the all time cure for all of this. The people in the jungle don't have to deal with all of this let's ask them for some of thier natural herb's and remedies and we would all be healthy. I guess it's time for a new dr. I think this will be dr like 30 something in the last six years. Good luck and godbless to you all in your quest for a better quality of life.

[bluetick]

I am 32 years old and right smack dab in the middle of peri. I take prempro, Prozac, ambien CR, and evening primrose oil, omega 3 fish oil, and a multivitamin that has all the good vitamins in it. My doctor was very good. She listened to me and said you are on your way to menopause. I have done all the panels. Tell her to keep looking for the right doctor because I had to search out mine.

[CML]

I am sorry all of you ladies started this crazy ride so early but hey maybe you will finish it early !!! We can only hope. Thanks again for all the input.
Take care,
Glenda

[kath S]

I,m 43 and full to bursting with every symptom going and more...................................................

My Dr informed me that I,m NO WHERE near Peri never mind menopause!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????????


What the heck is up with me then Dr???????

I,m just a teensy bit fed up with hearing this.

Least we are all in this together ladies

[davinci817]

I think I have been doing this mildly at least since 33 and it hit me like a mack truck around 36. Don't believe everything Doctors tell you. Nobody nobody nobody would test me until I found a Doctor that specialized in BHRT and when he tested me I had extremely low P and extremely high T and low Thyroid functions "ta da" I was peri!

Sorry I should have added I will be 39 this summer.

[lookingforanswer...]

First of all I am very happy to have found this site. I am 42 years old and think I am going crazy! My periods have been extremely regular all of my life. When I was 41, I did not have a period for almost three months. When I finally did get it, it did not stop. The bleeding was so extreme I thought I was never going to stop. Tried going to my PCP several times and she ran blood tests and checked my thyroid and everything seemed to come back normal. She put me on YAZ (I have never taken birth control and never had children) and it didn't stop the bleeding. This went on for about 3 weeks. I finally got a referral to an OB/GYN and he recommended a D&C and an endometrial ablation. I went ahead and did both. The D&C showed nothing abnormal and the bleeding did stop. When I have periods, they are very light and I don't have the cramping anymore. But about 6 months ago I started having heart palpitations and having a weird pulsating feeling in my stomach. Of course I got anxious about it since I didn't know what it was from and had an ultrasound. Everything came back normal. But over the last month I have been having a weird internal shaking in my body, my hands tremble and I get some weird twitches sometimes especially before bed. I have also had trouble sleeping due to the anxiety because I feel like there is really something wrong. I have also had a foggy feeling and sometimes seem off balance.

I have decided to change my PCP because she thinks that I need to go on anti-anxiety medication. I really want a second opinion. She tested my thyroid again and levels were normal. Are there other indicators of checking hormone levels? My aunt recommended another physician who is more in tune to menopausal symptoms.

I just want the worry and anxiety to stop!

Does this seem normal?

Thanks for listening.

[bchgrl65]

First of all I am very happy to have found this site. I am 42 years old and think I am going crazy! My periods have been extremely regular all of my life. When I was 41, I did not have a period for almost three months. When I finally did get it, it did not stop. The bleeding was so extreme I thought I was never going to stop. Tried going to my PCP several times and she ran blood tests and checked my thyroid and everything seemed to come back normal. She put me on YAZ (I have never taken birth control and never had children) and it didn't stop the bleeding. This went on for about 3 weeks. I finally got a referral to an OB/GYN and he recommended a D&C and an endometrial ablation. I went ahead and did both. The D&C showed nothing abnormal and the bleeding did stop. When I have periods, they are very light and I don't have the cramping anymore. But about 6 months ago I started having heart palpitations and having a weird pulsating feeling in my stomach. Of course I got anxious about it since I didn't know what it was from and had an ultrasound. Everything came back normal. But over the last month I have been having a weird internal shaking in my body, my hands tremble and I get some weird twitches sometimes especially before bed. I have also had trouble sleeping due to the anxiety because I feel like there is really something wrong. I have also had a foggy feeling and sometimes seem off balance.

I have decided to change my PCP because she thinks that I need to go on anti-anxiety medication. I really want a second opinion. She tested my thyroid again and levels were normal. Are there other indicators of checking hormone levels? My aunt recommended another physician who is more in tune to menopausal symptoms.

I just want the worry and anxiety to stop!

Does this seem normal?

Thanks for listening.

Hi Looking, it sounds like perimenopause to me, especially since the doctors could not find any other reason for what has happened to you. I have never missed a period...I am 44....but my periods are very light some months and some months, the first 2 or 3 days are heavy bleeding with clots. Last month was very light but I bet this month will be heavy...who knows. So many women in their late 30's/early 40's complain of a difference in how they feel, such as being depressed, anxious, period irregularity, anger issues. Is that coincidence? I don't think so. It has to be hormonal.